Today we’d like to introduce you to Ilana Rosenberg.
Ilana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
From the moment that I decided to use sequined children’s dress-up high heels as the escort cards for my Bat Mitzvah, I was enamored by event planning. That celebration was filled with bright colors, playful centerpieces, and exuberant dancing, and it was a perfect mirror for who I was as a 13-year-old girl. I’ve always loved the ability of celebrations to capture the essence of a person or couple while simultaneously uniting them with everyone they love.
Before founding IAE, I took a detour and became a CPA. I worked as an auditor at Deloitte, a Big 4 Public Accounting Firm, and then transitioned into the events industry as the On-Site Events Coordinator for one of Southern California’s premier beach clubs and social venues. These opportunities helped mold IAE into the detail-oriented, excel-loving, client-caring firm that we are today.
Has it been a smooth road?
Being an entrepreneur is constantly challenging, but these struggles have helped me grow as a business owner and as a person. When I started my own company, I quickly learned that I not only had to be an expert in my field, but I also had to quickly develop expertise in sales, marketing, finance, IT, operations, and HR. Work-life balance is difficult, but when I wake up in the morning, I am excited to create timelines, attend floral meetings, and chat with my clients about their music selections. I love what I do and I am passionate about executing fabulous events for our clients.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Ilana Ashley Events story. Tell us more about the business.
Our clients’ events are crafted around the feelings they want their guests to experience – celebration, elegance, simplicity, fun. We learn about our clients’ design aesthetic, personality, and color scheme, and then assemble a team of talented industry service professionals to create a cohesive event that perfectly executes their vision. We care tremendously about our clients. When a client joins IAE, they join the IAE family. Creating a magical event is as much about the planning process as it is about the final result; by protecting our clients, we ensure that they have amazing memories of the entire journey. Our relationships with our clients are maintained because of talent and expertise, but they bloom because of humor, kindness, and trust.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The events industry is constantly changing – farm tables, food trucks, rustic barns – the list of trends is endless. When molding your special event, my biggest piece of advice is use the design to express your personality. If you’re quirky, host an event at a museum with a dinosaur-theme. If you’re traditional, choose a beautiful ballroom with hanging orchids from the chandeliers. So, when trends begin to change, you can always look back on your special event and smile knowing that you simply did you.
Pricing:
- À la carte consulting at $95/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: http://ilanaashleyevents.com/
- Phone: 818.963.8670
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilanaashley/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IlanaAshleyEvents/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ilana_ashley
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/ilanaashley/
Image Credit:
Amy & Stuart Photography
Koman Photography
Brian Leahy Photography
Laurie Bailey Photography
Gloria Mesa Photography
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